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In the fierce rivalry between two of the world’s biggest superpowers, the next battleground isn’t land, oil, or even cyberspace — it’s the critical minerals hidden beneath our feet and scattered across the ocean floor. As the United States and China intensify their scramble for strategic resources, rare earths and deep-sea deposits have emerged as the new frontiers of global economic power.
By Rudairo Mapuranga
And as the race accelerates, the rest of the world, including Africa, must carefully watch, understand, and respond to the implications.
This is not just about minerals — it’s about magnets, machines, and the materials that define modern life. It’s about who will control the engines of clean energy, who will build the next generation of electric vehicles, and who will dictate the standards for sustainable extraction in a world that’s desperate to go green, but ill-prepared for the politics of how.
For decades, China has enjoyed a near-monopoly in the rare earth supply chain, refining roughly 90 percent of the world’s output. These are the elements powering everything from wind turbines to fighter jets. And as the clean energy transition accelerates globally, demand is exploding.
But in a dramatic shift, the United States is reasserting itself, driven by growing fears over Chinese dominance. Recent developments in Washington, notably under the Trump administration and beyond, have reignited interest in domestic production, strategic reserves, and controversial ventures such as deep-sea mining. A bold and contentious executive order from Trump cleared the way for American companies to mine the seabed without waiting for global consensus — effectively challenging long-standing international norms governed by the United Nations.
This unilateral move raised eyebrows from all corners of the globe. Environmental scientists and marine biologists warned of irreversible damage to unexplored ecosystems, while Chinese delegates at the International Seabed Authority quickly condemned the decision as a destabilising act of resource nationalism. But for companies like The Metals Company — an ambitious startup with its eyes on the Pacific’s Clarion-Clipperton Zone — Trump’s directive was an open invitation to stake a claim on polymetallic nodules containing nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese. These are the same metals the world needs to build batteries, wind farms, and the infrastructure of the future.
The irony is thick. In the name of fighting climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, nations are preparing to dig into one of the planet’s last untouched environments. All the while, terrestrial sources of rare earths are being rediscovered, revived, and in some cases, reinvested in — driven largely by escalating demand and the geopolitical need to diversify supply chains away from China.
A recent surge in U.S. rare earth stocks marks a watershed moment. For the first time, a U.S. company focused on rare earths cracked the Top 50 list of the world’s most valuable mining companies. Meanwhile, Apple signed a $500 million deal to source its rare earth magnets domestically — another clear signal that America is serious about reducing its exposure to Chinese-dominated refining capacity.
Across the Pacific, China hasn’t slowed down. If anything, it’s expanding its dominance. According to Mining.com, rare earth magnet exports from China soared 158% following a temporary easing of trade tensions. Beijing has invested billions in refining technology and magnet production, and with demand set to triple over the next decade — thanks to electric vehicles and offshore wind — the stakes have never been higher.
Zimbabwe and other African countries sit on the sidelines of this unfolding geopolitical drama, rich in potential but lacking the infrastructure and capital to leverage their mineral wealth strategically. As the world scrambles for lithium, rare earths, and clean-tech minerals, Africa must decide whether it wants to be a passive supplier of raw material or an active player shaping how, where, and by whom value is added.
The current U.S.-China rivalry offers both opportunity and risk for resource-rich but capacity-constrained nations. On one hand, it opens the door for new partnerships, financing, and technology transfer. On the other, it may deepen dependencies, where African countries become battlegrounds for mineral influence without ever dictating the rules.
The question Zimbabwe and the continent must grapple with is whether we can formulate policies that ensure our resources support our own green industrialisation — or whether we will once again watch others build empires on the back of our minerals. Rare earths and deep-sea treasures are not just commodities — they are the raw DNA of the energy transition. Whoever controls them controls the pace and direction of the future.
In this new era of critical mineral competition, the stakes are planetary. It’s not simply about how much nickel or cobalt you have. It’s about your ability to refine it, regulate it, and reap the economic and social dividends from its use. And while the U.S. and China battle it out on the frontlines, the real opportunity may lie with those who can find a middle path — one that values sovereignty, sustainability, and long-term benefit over short-term extraction.
As Washington digs deeper and Beijing expands faster, Zimbabwe must ask itself: are we preparing to play in this global mineral game — or are we content to be spectators once more?
